The main aim of the course is to provide the Students with cognitive tools of soils and their functional relationships with the different environmental factors (i.e. geological formations, geomprhological processes, fauna and flora, climate, running waters). A particular care is taken over the natural and anthropic processes typical of the alpine and pre-alpine territories.

Structure and composition of the Earth and the earth's crust. Main silicate and non-silicate minerals. The clay minerals. Principles of structural geology. Geomorphological features and processes in the mountain and hilly regions. Classification and properties of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. The soil profile: horizons, pedological features, field and laboratory checklists. The Soil Taxonomy. Basic and applied soil mapping of the Lombardy region.

Program:

Structure and composition of the Earth and the earth's crust. Main silicate and non-silicate minerals. The clay minerals. Principles of structural geology. Geomorphological features and processes in the mountain and hilly regions. Classification and properties of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. The soil profile: horizons, pedological features, field and laboratory checklists. The Soil Taxonomy. Basic and applied soil mapping of the Lombardy region.